Spring

Visualize Your Spring Experience

Outdoor weddings can be absolutely gorgeous, especially in Maine, where we are blessed to experience the four seasons, each with its own charm and beauty. Spring weddings, combined with the smell of fresh flowers and signs of new life, set the perfect stage to begin a new chapter of your life. Spring is considered “off-season” in Maine and is the perfect time for those who want to avoid the crowded summer wedding season. An off-season wedding sometimes means you’ll have your choice of the best of the best wedding vendors Maine has to offer. With the right planning and the following planning tips, you can set the foundation for a comfortable and charming wedding experience for your guests to talk about for years to come!

THURSDAY

11:00 A.M.	Get your marriage license from the Stockton Springs Town Office! The Town Office is not open on Friday.
12:00 P.M.	Check in to French’s Point with your House Captains & meet the Property Manager! Deliver welcome bags to guest suites, & settle into your room.
2:00 P.M.	Guests are welcomed to each home, with wine & chacuterie boards, delivered by Bell the Cat. Time to settle in & enjoy the views.
6:00 P.M.	Enjoy a delicious & memorable welcome dinner at Young's Lobster Pound.
8:00 P.M.	Cuddle up fireside & reconnect around one of the many fire pits at the estate. Enjoy the warm, gooey delight of s’mores.
**10:00 P.M.	Rest up. The fun has just begun.

FRIDAY

**8:00 A.M.	Start the day off with a morning walk on the bluff path & the trails of the Sandy Point State Park, where you can soak in the sweet smell of pine & beach roses & take in the morning dew as it lifts from the lawns.
9:00 A.M.	Enjoy freshly baked Enjoy freshly baked strawberry muffins & coffee awaiting you in the Dining Room at the Farm House.
10:00 A.M.	Explore! Excursions to the top of the Penobscot Narrows Observatory for spectacular views, and Fort Knox Historic Site, check out the local shops & galleries, ride a bike or hike one of the many trail systems at the surrounding State parks.
4:00 P.M.	Gather your wedding party & family for a ceremony rehearsal outside at the Retreat House Gazebo, surround with blooming roses & lilacs, framed with breath-taking views.
5:00 P.M.	Sip a Mint Julep and enjoy an al fresco dinner on the Gazebo Promenade and enjoy the fragrant gardens.
7:00 P.M.	Take in the sherbet-like Spring sunset over the bay.
8:00 P.M.	Cap off the night in front of the fire pit on the terrace, & reconnect with your friends.
**10:00 P.M.	Get some rest! Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

SATURDAY

*7:00 A.M.	Bell the Cat delivers coffee, freshly baked quiche, & fruit to each home, so guests can enjoy a relaxing breakfast in their pajamas.
**8:00 A.M.	Begin the day with a morning yoga session for the wedding party & in the sun-filled Conservatory at the Retreat House, where you can take in the views of the bay.
9:00 A.M.	Your Hair & Make-Up team arrives to begin preparations, in the Apartment Parlor at the Retreat House. Sit in front of the fire & enjoy the views of the bay.
12:00 P.M.	Lunch is delivered by Bell the Cat, to some of the wedding party at the Retreat House Apartment, with with fresh chevre and strawberry salads & mimosas of course!
	Lunch is also delivered by Bell the Cat, to more wedding party & family at the Farm House BBQ Lawn, after a badminton or volley ball on the Recreation Lawn at the Farm.
2:00 P.M.	Pre-ceremony photos of the wedding party are taken on the Retreat House Apartment balcony overlooking the estate.
	More of the wedding party arrives at the Recreation Room at Retreat House to relax with a game of pool or poker, or watch the game on the TV.
3:00 P.M.	A brass band sets the mood as guests arrive by trolley to mingle and enjoy strawberry lemonade, mint iced tea, and cucumber water on the terrace.
3:30 P.M.	The ceremony bell rings out over the bay & calls your guests to the ceremony. Offer guests wraps to keep them comfortable, while you exchange your vows.
4:00 P.M.	Congrats to the happy couple! Your guests mingle on the Retreat House Terrace, while they enjoy cocktail hour, with delicious drinks & hors d’oeuvres on the terrace, take a stroll on the bluff path, take in the commanding views of the bay from our signature Grand Daddy Adirondack chairs, or play a rousing game of corn-hole on the oceanfront lawn. Take your first photos as a married couple, with your wedding party & family.
5:00 P.M.	Guests are ushered inside the beautiful Sailcloth Tent for the reception, aglow with candles & lighting.
5:15 P.M.	Introductions of the family & wedding party, followed by speeches & toasts. Cheers!
5:30 P.M.	Dinner is served! Enjoy a menu unique to your tastes, provided by your wedding catering partner of choice.
6:00 P.M.	Cut the cake & enjoy your first dance. Welcome guests to the dance floor.
7:30 P.M.	Sneak away with your photographer, to capture the splendid light of the setting sun & rising moon in photographs.
9:55 P.M.	Enjoy one last dance.
**10:00 P.M.	Guests move inside the Retreat House Foyer Bar & Lounge, to enjoy delicious late-night treats from Gelato Fiasco.
**10:45 P.M.	One last call from the bar. Snuggle up in front of the fire, as guests await their shuttle escort.
**11:00 P.M.	Bid the last of your off-site lodging guests farewell. On-site lodging guests depart to their assigned home. Retreat to your beautiful suite with your new spouse.
**12:00 A.M.	Vendor departure & lights out.

SUNDAY

8:00 A.M.	Bell the Cat arrives to prepare for your farewell brunch.
9:00 A.M.	Guests stop by the Retreat House Dining Room, to enjoy a farewell brunch.
10:00 A.M.	Guests check out & vendors depart.
12:00 P.M.	Hosts check out. Off to your honeymoon adventure!
* NOTE:	Bell the Cat is a trusted provider for coffee & meal delivery service & brunch. See the Preferred Vendors Guide for contact details.
** NOTE:	Quiet Hours- All amplified music must cease at 10:00p.m. at the Retreat House & 9:00 p.m. at the Farm House & Beach House. Guest activity & noise must be contained within the homes during Quiet Hours. On-site lodging guests must return to their designated lodging home & off-site lodging guests must depart the estate by 11:00 p.m. Vendors must depart by midnight, when exterior lighting extinguishes. After Parties are not permitted.